Geek Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Rescue Bears Book 6) (13 page)

“You know how I invented Mate.com?”

“Yeah.”

“And you know how I said I didn’t want you to like me for my money?”

“How could I forget?”

“The thing is, I need you to know what I’m working with here. I need there to not be any secrets between us. And, I need your help.”

“Corey, you know I don’t care about money. All I want is to be able to write my books and live in peace.”

“That’s why I love you so much, Willow,” he said, leaning in to claim her lips in a sweet kiss.

“How much are we talking here?” she asked.

He cleared his throat. “Seven billion,” he croaked.

“Seven…billion. Holy shit, Corey. That’s not even real world money. That’s like fantasy money.”

“I realize that.”

“How did you get all that?”

“My work. Good investments. It just sort of happened over time. It’s embarrassing.”

“You’re embarrassed of seven billion dollars?” she asked in a voice that was between a gasp and a giggle.

“Well, the rest of the guys are pretty middle class. Levi’s got a few bucks in the bank, but his family was always wealthy. The guys are used to it. No one knows I’m worth so much.”

“You share everything with your crew but not that?”

“I don’t want them to treat me differently. I’m already the geek bear of the crew, I don’t want to be the rich asshole of the group too.”

“They’d never think that of you, Corey. The clan loves you. The Rescue Bears love you like a brother.”

“I know that. I just never wanted it to get between us.”

“I’m glad you told me. Did you need my help telling your crew?”

“No, that’s not what I need help with. I need help figuring out how to spend it.”

“I am partial to diamonds. I wonder what seven billion dollars of diamonds looks like,” Willow teased.

“When I was a cub, the shifter community rallied around my mom and helped her get on her feet after my dad left. Then I got a scholarship to college from the Great Shifter Council. I’d like to give back to the community.”

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

“That’s what I need you to help me figure out.”

16

One year later

W
illow held Corey’s hand as they walked up the front walk of their new building. The Bright Institute for Shifters would soon be ready to open its arms to shifters who needed assistance, training, and education.

The five-hundred-thousand-foot building would house living facilities and educational spaces for the shifters who lived there.

The mission of the institute was to help shifters succeed. After thousands of years of secrecy, followed by two decades of persecution and war, shifters needed a hand making their way up in the world.

Many of the men who’d come back from the war had hit the ground running. But many others hadn’t had such a good time of it. Even with the benefits shifters received after the war, many shifters were too wounded by their pasts to move on. Many were unready to navigate the world that awaited them at home.

Corey and Willow had talked for long hours about how best to serve the world after he’d finally revealed how much money he had. After her shock of learning the number, they’d come to the decision to start the institute.

Corey had found the best instructors in the nation to come work at the institute. They had everything from machine shops to computer engineering labs. And the students could then move on to work for the institute in service of the community and the world to earn their education and board.

By the time they were done, they’d have a nest egg and an education. Or they could stay on to work and teach new students.

Willow and Corey had figured this all out together. They’d also decided to name the foundation after them both since she’d taken his last name when they married.

They walked through the hallways of the new building. It had been designed as a cross between a traditional university and an ultramodern Silicon Valley tech company. The spaces were open and airy and the entire place felt alive with possibility.

Willow’s life had been transformed since she and Corey had mated. Getting out of her contract at her publishing company had been a snap. She’d even been paid double for her manuscript.

She now wrote under her married name, Willow Bright. The lives and loves of shifters on Fate Mountain gave her plenty of stories to write about.

The first students started walking past them, moving toward the introductory presentation for the very first group of students at the institute.

Corey walked into the airy auditorium, and she followed him to the small stage where they joined the faculty. When the students were all seated, the principal of the institute stood to give his speech.

The instructors all spoke in turn, giving the new students a good idea of what they could expect in their first year at the institute.

Most of the shifters who sat out in the audience were between twenty-five and thirty-five years old. Most were men, although there were a good number of female shifters as well.

Willow gazed over at Corey, her heart full of pride and admiration for what he’d done. He gave her tons of credit for creating the institute, but the truth was, he’d done it. She couldn’t even begin to tackle the complexities of creating this place while trying to write. But he’d done it in a little under a year.

It was amazing what he could achieve if he put his mind to something meaningful. Corey looked into her eyes and smiled, squeezing her hand. He leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“This never would have happened without you,” he said.

She let out a deep breath, feeling their bond radiate between them.

When all of the instructors had finished their speeches, Corey stood to give a talk of his own.

Willow watched him as Corey took the podium. He had overcome so much to get here. And he’d done it all with hard work and unparalleled genius. She gripped her hands together, feeling his love deep in her heart.

“Welcome first year students of the Bright Institute. As most of you know, I’m Corey Bright.” The audience applauded before he could continue. “This is my wife, Willow Bright. When she and I first came up with the idea for the institute, people thought we were insane to try to build a place like this. Especially in a small town like Fate Mountain.

“But the two of us believed that we could make a real difference. To help shifters of all types and all ages find their way in this challenging new world. We are building the future. Together.”

The crowd shot to their feet in a standing ovation. After the applause died down and everyone began to file out, Corey and Willow walked out among the new students. They made their way out to the reception in the sunny lobby.

Willow lifted a champagne glass off a tray passing by. They were dressed in semi-formal clothing and looked amazing. He turned to her, lifting his own glass.

“Well done, Mr. Bright,” Willow said.

“Well done, Mrs. Bright,” Corey replied. They clinked their glasses and leaned in to kiss each other on each cheek.

“I didn’t believe it when they told me. My brother…mated and married!”

“Zoe,” Corey said, looking shocked.

Willow turned to the girl. She was dressed in a form-fitting black dress that hugged her young curves.

“How have you been, brother dear?” Zoe asked, walking up to Corey.

“What do you think of the gala?” Corey asked her.

“It’s fantastic. You really went all out for us students.”

“You’re a student here?” Corey asked.

Willow could feel his emotions spiking as he stood there next to her. She stepped forward.

“I’m Willow. It’s so great to meet you. We missed you at the wedding.”

“I was in Bali at the time,” Zoe said, flipping her black hair over her shoulder.

“Why did you apply to the Bright Institute?”

“I need an education. You know. I want to learn a trade.”

“You want to learn a trade. Like carpentry?” Corey made a laughing sound that was more like a cough.

“Why not?”

“Hey, sis, if you want to learn carpentry, I think that’s great. But I don’t buy that it’s why you’re really here.”

“You got me. I’m really here because I missed you, big brother.”

“Okay. I’ll go along with it. I missed you too, kid. It’s good to see you turning a new leaf.”

“Thanks. I’ll just get going to my new accommodations in the housing wing.”

“Good luck with your studies,” he said as she walked away.

“So that was your sister?” Willow asked.

The curvy girl slinked off into a crowd of men, flicking her black hair over her shoulder.

“I love her dress,” Willow said.

“That was Zoe Bright. My kid sister. What the hell is her game?”

“Why do you think she’s playing a game?” Willow asked, sipping her campaign.

“Learning carpentry. That’s not Zoe. She has another reason to be here. It isn’t money. I send her plenty for her lifestyle or anything else she wants to do. She’s been on a dance party tour for the last five years, just following the music. I don’t believe she’s here to learn a trade.”

“Why not? Why think the worst?”

“Zoe is cagy. We’re siblings. I know her.”

“Well. It’s nice to have her back in your life. Don’t you think?”

“Sure. I love my kid sister. We used to be pretty close, despite the age difference. We always took care of each other and our mom.”

“I just want to help her with whatever she needs,” Willow said.

“I love you, Willow Bright. So wise.”

He kissed the top of her head.

“Let’s get out of here,” Corey said, taking her hand and leading her to the door.

They strolled along the path in the warm mountain air. She laughed when he tugged her under the fir trees. They kissed in the fragrant grove, feeling the heat of love between them as they embraced in the summer air.

“I need to get you home,” he said into her ear.

“Take me there,” she said.

They continued along the path until they came to their new private estate. The house was tucked behind a line of poplars.

The whole front face of the house was a wall of windows that took in an expansive view of the mountains and lake. The big patio wrapped around the house and was perfect for Willow to write on. She even liked to watch the rain when it poured down over the massive windows.

The house was the perfect size. Not too big, not too small. It would be great for when they decided to have cubs down the road. Everything was finished nicely, from the floors to the countertops.

When they walked inside, it just felt like home. Willow thought about the plot for her next book. She could feel Corey’s mind working too. Now that he’d successfully brought the institute to fruition, she knew that he would be itching to start something new to keep his mind occupied.

They took big glasses of ice water out onto the deck and sat together on a porch swing, watching the sunset.

“Do you think you’ll ever give up being the data analyst for the Rescue Bears?” Willow asked, snuggling into Corey’s shoulder.

“Never. I’ll go on missions with my crew until we all decide to stop. We’re a crew. Rescues are what we do.”

“You rescued all those students at the institute.”

“There’s always someone out there who needs to be saved.”

“I admire so much about you, Corey. You’re a hero. You’re my hero.”

“You’re my hero, Willow. Without you, I never would have figured out who I am or what I’m capable of. With you, my life is complete. You saved me from solitude.”

Willow nuzzled Corey’s shoulder, threading her fingers through his. She felt the love in their hearts cycling back and forth between their bond. The intensity of it spiraled up and around them both like twirling fireworks.

Willow finally felt at peace. She was finally home now with Corey. They’d found the greater whole that came from the pairing of their individual parts, and it was glorious.

Together they could do anything.

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